Dump feeder

ABSTRACT

An orienter and feed device for receiving, one at a time, generally hemispherical bodies, such as drupe halves indiscriminately positioned insofar as whether their planar and hemispherical surfaces are uppermost or lowermost, and automatically delivering said halves, one at a time, with their planar faces uppermost. The disclosure includes means for delivering said drupes to a row of such devices and means for receiving and supporting the oriented halves delivered therefrom, in single files, one for each device.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,584,526 2/1952 Albertoli l98/33(R4) Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby Assistant ExaminerAlfred N Goodman 'Attorney Boyken, Mohler, Foster and Regan ABSTRACT: An orienter and feed device for receiving, one at a time, generally hemispherical bodies, such as drupe halves indiscriminately positioned insofar as whether their planar and hemispherical surfaces are uppermost or lowermost, and

Inventor George E. Kilner Alameda, Calif. [2]] App]. No. 813,955

Apr. 7, i969 Patented Apr. 20, 1971 Assignee Fiiper Corporation San Ramon, Calif.

16 Claims, 15 Drawing Figs.

United States Patent [22] Filed [54] DUMPFEEDER PATENTEDAPRZUIQYI 3575277 SHEET 1 BF 6 FIG- I I NVE NTOR. 65026: 5 K/uvle 7 m Maze lrro PATENTED APR20 I97! SHEET 2 UF 6 INVENTOR. 652276! E. (a wig I raIA IVJ PATENTEU APRZO I97! SHEET b 0F 6 I N V E NTOR. 6:014 5 Kama:

PATENTEU APRZO 1971 SHEU 5 OF 6 FIG- 14 I N V EN TOR. 650:0: :7 (A/:2

PATENTED APR'20 197a SHEET 5 UF 6 INVENTOR. iaiaiihm/lz $75,, W Mo-W DUMP FEEDER SUMMARY One use of the present invention is for orienting indiscriminately positioned, generally hemispherical halves of bisected drupes, such as peaches, so their planar or cut faces are uppermost and accessible for removing a half or whole pit that may be held in the pit cavity. Also, the invention may be used for inspecting the cut faces of the halves for defects, pit fragments, or impurities making them unsuitable for canning or for other uses.

One of the objects of the invention 'is a simple, reliable device adapted for the above uses, and which device does not injure the halves in the orienting step.

Another object is the provision of an orienter for feeding and orienting drupe halves so their cut or planar surfaces are directed upwardly, one at a time, at equally spaced intervals, onto a conveyor, or receiver, etc.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a simplified, reduced-size top plan view of an installation in which the present invention is adapted to be used.

FIG. 2 is a semidiagrammatic simplified side elevational view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end view of the feeder and orienter shown in association with parts of FIG. I that may adjoin the feeder and orienter.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, part elevational and part crosssectional view of the device generally as seen from line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the device as seen from line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a simplified view similar to FIG. 5, showing a drupe half deposited on a feeder device with its cut face directed downwardly, and the discharge of a drupe half that was correspondingly positioned prior to the one supported on the device.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6 showing a drupe half deposited on a feeder device with its cut face directed upwardly, and the discharge of a drupe half that was correspondingly positioned prior to the one supported on the device.

FIGS. 810 are simplified fragmentary views showing the successive steps in the movement of a drupe half on the device to a discharge therefrom which half was fed onto a side of the device with its cut face directed downwardly.

FIGS. 11-13 are simplified fragmentary views showing the successive steps in the movement of a drupe half on the device to a discharge position therefrom, which half was fed onto the device with its cut face directed upwardly.

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 14.

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of a still further modification of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1, 2 are illustrative of apparatus in which the present invention is adapted to be used to insure that objects of substantially hemispherical outline such as drupe or peach halves, for example, that are delivered to the specific device of this invention with their cut faces directed upwardly or downwardly, will all be discharged from the device with their cut faces directed upwardly. Other means than is specifically shown may deliver the halves to the present invention and may receive the halves discharged therefrom, although the means disclosed is believed to be new in combination with said device that is disclosed.

The description will specifically refer to drupe halves, whether pitted or unpitted, and the word cut face" defines the planar surface of the body of the drupe resulting from the cut that bisects the whole peach. It is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily restricted to use with the drupe halves, but is adapted for use with any objects of generally hemispherical outlines similar to drupe halves.

A feeder, which may be a shuffle feeder, or a feeder adapted to convey drupe halves in rows of parallel files longitudinally thereof, is generally designated 1, (FIG. 1). The drupe halves are intermittently moved longitudinally of said files for discharge, one at a time, at uniformly spaced intervals from one of the ends of said files onto the upper side of the present invention, which is generally designated 2.

The drupe halves delivered onto the feeder and orienter 2, which will hereafter be called a dump feeder, to distinguish it from feeder 1, may be delivered with their cut faces directed downwardly or upwardly, inasmuch as their positions on the feeder 1 is not uniform.

The dump feeder 2 is supported for rotation about a horizontal axis adjacent to and below the discharge end of the feeder I, and said axis of rotation extends at a right angle to the files of drupe halves that are adapted to be intermittently fed or discharged from the shuffle, or other feeder 1.

Theupper surfaces of the dump feeder 2 are positioned to receive the halves fed thereto from feeder 1, and upon rotation of said device, clockwise as seen in FIG. 1, the halves will automatically be discharged or dumped onto a conveyor, generally designated 3, with their cut faces directed upwardly. The conveyor indicated in FIG. 1 may comprise endless, generally horizontally extending rows of cups, or receptacles, so arranged that the open sides of the cups move to positions with their open sides generally directed upwardly as the rows of cups move past and away from the dump feeder 2 for receiving a drupe half in each cup with its cut face directed upwardly and outwardly of the cup.

The conveyor may then carry the drupe halves to a pitter, generally designated 4, that detaches the half or whole pit from each half, after which the pitted halves are discharged from the pitter.

The drupe halves on conveyor 3, having their cut faces directed upwardly, enable an inspector at said conveyor to quickly inspect the halves before pitting or further processing, to remove any halves having pits that may be broken or the halves that are objectionably discolored, which halves are spaced apart on the conveyor in regular rows, making inspection, and removal of halves relatively easy.

The dump feeder 2 comprises a horizontally disposed shaft 5 (FIG. 4) rotatably supported at its ends in bearings 6 that, in turn, are carried by a frame generally designated 7 (FIG. 2). The feeder I, conveyor 3, and pitter 4 may all be supported on the same frame in proper operative relation to each other, or the dump feeder 2 may be supported on a suitable frame wherever desired.

A ratchet wheel 8, secured on shaft 5, (FIGS. 3, 4) is adapted to be intermittently rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 2, 3, by engagement with a pawl 9 (FIG. 3). Pawl 9 is carried on a pawl-support 10 that, in turn, if pivotally supported by a pivot 11 on one end portion 12 of an elongated member 13 that, in turn, is rotatably supported intermediate its opposite ends on shaft 5. End portion 14 of member 13 projects from the side of shaft 5 opposite to portion 12, and the outer end of said end portion 14 is connected by a pivot 15 to one end of a rod 16.

The end of rod to, opposite to pivot 15, is connected by a pivot 17 to the outer end of a crank arm 18 that, in turn, is secured on a shaft 19.

Shaft 19 is continuously driven in one direction, thereby effecting oscillatory movement of pawl 9 and intermittent rotation of the shaft 5 clockwise as seen in FIG. 2, said shaft 5 being rotated through with each oscillatory movement of the pawl. A brake 20 around the end of shaft 5, opposite to the ratchet wheel 8, prevents overrunning of the shaft at the end of each of the intermittent rotations thereof.

Referring back to the shaft 5 (FIGS. 4, 5) a plurality of boxlike elements 23, each having four corresponding sidewalls or plates 24 equally spaced around said shaft, is keyed to the latter. Each element 23 includes spaced, opposed corresponding end walls 25 centrally bored for shaft 5 and formed with keyways for keys 26, for keying the elements to shaft 5, and which walls 25 are integrally connected and spaced apart by parallel walls 27. In FIG. 5, walls 25 are shown as being square in outline with their respective edges in registration, axially of shaft 5.

Each plate 24 extends across and is secured against each correspondingly positioned pair of edges of end walls 25 by screws 28 that secure opposedly positioned flanges 29 on each plate against the oppositely outwardly facing surfaces of end walls 25. The plates or walls 24 are approximately rectangular, and square, in outline, except that each is formed with an outwardly opening recess 30 of V-shape, cross-sectional contour extending thereacross centrally between and parallel with end walls 25 (FIG. 4) and the leading and trailing edges 31 of each plate along the end edges of the sides of said recesses, relative to the circular direction of movement of plates 24 are inclined to substantially meet the correspondingly inclined end edges of adjacent plates. This provides a continuous V-shape outwardly opening central channel around each box member 23 in a vertical planethat extends transversely across shaft 5 perpendicular to the latter.

The shaft 5 is adapted to rotate in one direction, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5; hence, each plate 24 has a leading edge and a trailing edge, and a pair of horizontally spaced, parallel, coplanar marginal portions 32 at opposite sides of each recess 30. The marginal portions 32 of each plate 24 extend across the edges of the end walls 25 to the opposite outwardly facing surfaces of the pair of end walls and the trailing edges of said marginal portions extend to the ends of the edges of the end walls where they adjoin the edges of the adjacent end walls.

The leading end portions 33 of the marginal portions 32 of each plate 24 are bent outwardly of the body of member 23 to positions at right angles to the planar marginal portions 32. The line of bend of each portion 33 extends from the leading end of each recess 30, preferably at an angle of between 30 and 35 relative to a vertical plane that is coincidental with the bottom of each recess 30, or that bisects each member 23 normal to the axis of shaft 5.

Portions 33 may be called ears" and their outer edges are convexly curved linearly thereof, extending from the leading ends 34 of said ears in a direction generally rearwardly and outwardly relative to the plane of marginal portions 32 at angles of approximately 45 and then back to said plane along generally circularly extending edges that may meet the oppositely outwardly positioned edges of the pair of marginal portions 32 at points intermediate the leading and trailing edges of each plate 24.

Each element 2, in the row of said elements, may be called a "dump feeder" for reasons that will appear later on, although each feeder effects an orientation of drupe halves in that they are dumped or discharged from the feeder with their cut faces directed upwardly, irrespective of whether said halves are positioned on the upper plate 24 of each element with its cut face directed upwardly or downwardly.

The ears 33 on each dump feeder form a generally V- shaped support centrally positioned along the leading end of each plate or side 24 at the opposite sides of recess 30, with the outer edges of the ears being linearly convex and progressively farther from the planar marginal portions 22 in directions extending generally divergently away from each other in a direction away from the leading end of each recess 30.

The radially outwardly facing surfaces of said plates, including the inwardly facing surfaces of said ears 33 may be embossed to provide a plurality of spaced curved convex surfaces that are elongated and extend in rows parallel with the central recess 30 to prevent adherence of the cut faces of drupe halves thereto under the influence of suction and to facilitate the sliding of halves on said surfaces.

A feed means for each element 23, or dump feeder, may be provided in the form of a chute 37 (FIGS. 3, 4) that includes a bottom wall 38 (FIG. 3) and opposite sidewalls 39. The bottom walls 38 of the chutes extend slantingly downwardly from the upper end of the shuffle feeder.

The lower terminal edge of each bottom wall 38 is spaced above a member 23 but leads to the rear end of each plate 24 at a point in the revolution of each dump feeder, while sidewalls 39, which are at right angles to bottom wall 38, extend upwardly from the side edges of the bottom wall, and also extend downwardly from said bottom wall past opposite sides of the upper portion of the member 23 that is therebetween.

Whether the drupe halves are fed into the chutes 37 directly from the feeder l in spaced uniform time intervals, or by other means, a flat stationary plate 40 (FIG. 3) may be provided over which the halves are slid, enter with their cut faces or their hemispherical surfaces against the plate, to said chutes for sliding down the latter and onto plate 24 of member 23 when the latter is rotated to position one of said plates below and slightly beyond the lower edge of said bottom 38, as seen in FlGS. 6, 7. In FIG. 6 a drupe half 41 has been deposited on the plate 24 with its cut face positioned downwardly and against marginal portions 32 of said plate. Should there be a whole pit in the drupe half, it would project into the central recess 30 and the drupe half will slide down plate 24 longitudinally of recess 30 until it is stopped by and centered between ears 23.

In FIG. 7, drupe half 41 has been deposited on a plate 24 with its cut face directed upwardly, and such drupe half will also slide down said plate 24 along the edges of the sides of the recess 30 until stopped by the ears 33.

Arms 32, (FIGS. 3, 4) are adjustably secured at one of their ends to a stationary part of frame 7 and extend generally horizontally, but slantingly upwardly and forwardly from said one of their ends. Bolts 43 on said part of frame 7 extend through slots in the rear ends of said anns, which slots extend longitudinally of said arms to permit said adjustable securement of said arms to said frame.

The words foreward, forwardly, rear," and rearwardly," as used herein, are related to the direction of movement of the upper sides of the members 23 on shaft 5, which move in a forward direction.

The upper forward ends of arms 42 are supported at a level spaced substantially above the row of members 23, and a horizontally disposed angle bar 44, having depending brackets 45 at its ends projected therewith, is adjustably secured to the outer ends of said arms by bolts 46 that, in turn, extend through horizontally extending slots in the forward ends of arms 42 (FIG. 3) to enable securing the bar 44 and elements carried thereby at different adjusted positions forwardly and rearwardly on said arms 42.

The sidewalls 39 of chutes 37 are secured along their upper edges to bar 44 by brackets 47 (FIG. 3) and between each adjacent pair of sidewalls is an apron 48 that is of a width that substantially extends from one sidewall to the other of the sidewalls 39 of each pair. Said aprons each includes a generally horizontally extending rearward extension 50 at its upper end, the rear portion of which is provided with a pair of horizontally spaced upward projections 51, having horizontally aligned openings through which a rod 52 loosely extends for swinging of the apron 48 therefrom.

Angle bar 44 has one vertical side to which forwardly projecting pairs of cars 53 are secured, which ears are formed with openings through which the rod 52 extends and which ears support the rod 52. The projections 51 of each pair thereof are between one of the pair of ears 53; hence, the latter positions the apron along the rod.

The main depending portion of each apron that extends angularly downwardly from the upper portion 50 is between the forward extensions of sidewalls 39 that extend forwardly of the bottom 38 of each chute, and the lower end portion of each apron extends downwardly and partially across the forward side of each member 23 and a stop element 54 on the lower horizontal leg of the angle bar 44 may function to prevent the apron from being struck by the member 23 during rotation of the latter.

In the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a motor 60 on the pitting mechanism 4 drives a sprocket 61 that is connected by a sprocket chain 62 with a sprocket wheel 63. Said sprocket 63 is on a shaft 64 that, in turn, carries a box cam 65 and a sprocket wheel 66, the latter being connected by a chain 67 with a sprocket wheel 68, which wheel, in turn, is connected by a chain 69 with a sprocket wheel 70 on a shaft 71. A second sprocket wheel on shaft 71 is connected by a chain 72 with a sprocket wheel 73 on shaft 19 that, in turn, is operatively connected with the shuffle feeder members 75 of the shuffle feeder 1 for continuously actuating the latter to move the drupes, in a plurality of rows, step-by-step, up the incline of the feeder, for depositing or discharging the drupes, one at a time, at equally spaced intervals onto the chutes 37 that lead to the dump feeder 2.

The particular feeder I that is indicated, is described in detail in copending application Ser. No. 779,584, filed Nov. 27, 1968, although, as already mentioned, the dump feeder 2 is adapted for use with any feeder that is adapted to feed drupe halves or the like, one at a time, onto the plates or walls 24 as the latter are successively positioned with one of the plates 24 facing upwardly generally as shown in FIGS. 5-7.

Where the conveyor 3 comprises rows of cups 76, or other means for receiving the drupe halves as they are discharged from the dump feeder 2, the conveyor having a plurality of endless rows of spaced cups 76 as seen in FIG. 1 may be supported by endless chains extending over sprocket wheels 77 respectively secured on shafts 78, 79, the latter being intermittently actuated by a one-way driving connection with a rod 88 that, in turn, is connected with a crank arm 81 having a cam follower 82 in box cam 65 that is on shaft 64. Arm 81 may be pivotally connected at 83 with a stationary part of the pitter frame.

The feeder 1, dump feeder 2, and conveyor 3 are synchronized so that the drupe halves successively arrive at the pitter 4, where the dump feeder 2 is used in combination with a pitter, at the same intervals of time as they are fed onto the dump feeder and are discharged therefrom.

In the arrangement shown, irrespective of the pitter 4, or feeder 1, or the cup-type conveyor 3, the drupe halves will all be oriented with their cut faces directed upwardly when discharged from the dump feeder, whether for inspection, packing, pitting, or other processing of the drupe halves.

FIGS. 810 show a drupe half 41 having its cut face directed downwardly when deposited on the dump feeder. In FIG. 8 the dump feeder is shown at the interval between intermittent clockwise movements thereof, during which interval the drupe half has slid over the downwardly and forwardly inclined surface 24 of the dump feeder 23 to be stopped and centered by the cars 33 that extend convergently relative to each other in a downward direction.

ln the position shown in FIG. 8, the lower end portion of the apron 48 is in yieldable engagement with the forwardly facing convex outer surface of the half 41. Thus, the drupe 41 will not topple over through the momentum developed during movement to ears 33 or thereafter until released from the apron or until the dump feeder has rotated sufficiently to carry the half through the position shown in FIG. 9 and approximately to the position shown in FIG. at which time the drupe half will topple forwardly due to the center of gravity having moved forwardly relative to cars 33 sufficiently for it to pivot substantially about a horizontal axis at points 33' along the outer edges of ears 33 (FIG. 10) so that the half will be dumped with its convex side downwardly into one of the cups 76 (FIG. 6) or onto any suitable support.

The linear contours of the outer edges of the ears 33 are the same, said edges extending progressively outwardly and rearwardly from their leading ends, relative to the planar marginal portions of each plate 24, so that drupes of different diameters will engage the edges at different points for dumping from the dump feeder at substantially the same point in the revolution of the feeder so that the convex side of the drupe half so dumped will always be received in a cup 76 or on any other suitable support or receptacle in approximately the position of cup 76, as seen in FIG. 6.

In FIG. 11 a drupe half 41 has been fed onto the upwardly and forwardly facing side of the dump feeder with its convex side on said side or on plate 24, and has slid down said side for centering against ears 33. In this instance the convex surface of the drupe half will engage the outer edges of ears 33 at approximately horizontally aligned points 33 along side edges, and the lower end portion of the apron 48 will engage the forward edge of the drupe half.

As the dump feeder rotates to a position in which the side supporting the drupe half is substantially vertical, as seen in H6. 12, the apron 48 will engage the trailing end of the drupe half 41, which will augment the existing tendency of the half to pivot about points 33' and to slide out of its position between ears 33 to substantially the dot-dash line position shown in FIG. 13 upon the dump feeder reaching the position shown in FIG. 7 in which the drupe half is dumped from the feeder into a cup 76 (FIG. 7) with its cut face upwardly and its convex side facing downwardly.

From the foregoing explanation it is seen that the drupe halves 41, whether their cut faces are directed upwardly or downwardly are supported for movement in one direction in a downwardly extending arcuate path of travel, the halves will, in turn, be movable about horizontal axes for discharge from the dump feeder in a position with their cut faces directed upwardly.

Inasmuch as the feeding, orienting and dumping action occurs during the arcuate movement of the forward side of the feeder, it is obvious that, if desired, the plates 24 could be arranged in an endless row generally as seen in FIG. 14 at 85, and connected at their ends with endless chains 86 that, in turn, extend over a pair of sprocket wheels 87 on each of the shafts 88. Discs 89 on shafts 88 may support the plates as they move around the shaft 87 at the discharge end of the feeder, and an apron 90 performs the same function as apron 48. The driving means for intermittently driving the chain 86 and the row of plates 24, could be similar with that shown in FIG. 3. Said discs 89 may be recessed at 84 around their outer peripheries for extensions of the pivots that connect the plates 85 with the chains to maintain the position of plates 85 relative to the discs 87 as the latter are carried around said discs.

In the modification shown in FIG. 15, instead of each feeding device comprising a polysided body having a plurality of drupe supports or plates 24 or 85, each such support may comprise a single plate 91) having an upper surface contour, and cars 91 that are identical with that of each plate 24. The central recess 92 is the same as recess 38.

A horizontal shaft 93 extends below the rear, or drupe receiving, end of plate 90 and recess 92, and flanges 94 may depend from opposite lateral edges of the plate 98 to a sleeve or hollow shaft 95 that is secured to said shaft 93.

Any desired number of said plates may be secured, in a row, on said shaft 93, and an arm 96 at one end of said shaft is connected by a connecting rod 97 with the outer end of an arm 98 that, in turn, is secured on a rotating shaft 99. Shaft 99 may be continuously rotated in one direction by a connection 108 with any suitable source of power, whereupon the connecting rod 97 will be reciprocated to tilt the plate 99 from an upwardly facing position, as seen in full line, for receiving a drupe half thereon, to a tilted position indicated in broken lines at 101 for discharge of the drupe half, and back again to the full line position.

In each of the forms of the invention, it is seen that the drupe support is adapted to receive a drupe half, whether it carries a whole or half pit, in a position with the planar face of the drupe half flat against the coplanar marginal surfaces of the drupetsupporting plates, or the drupe halves may be supported on the plates 24, 85 or 0 with their convex sides against said plates. The central recess both serves to receive a whole pit that may project from the cut face of the half.

in the case of the convex side of the drupe half being against the supporting plate, the central recess may center the drupe half before it reaches the upstanding ears, but in any event the cars will engage the leading edge of the drupe to center it relative to said recess.

In each form the plate 24, 85 or 90 is tilted to discharge the drupe half thereon.

While the device of FIGS. l-l4 is preferable, there are occasions in which the devices of FIGS. 15, 16 may be used.

it is also to be noted that each form of the invention provides for intermittent discharge of the halves in uniform time intervals.

lclaim'.

l. A method of delivering and orienting generally hemispherical drupe halves, each having a substantially planar cut face on one side and a substantially hemispherical convex surface on the other side extending to the outer edges of said cut face so that said halves are each delivered, one at a time, with their cut faces directed upwardly irrespective of whether said halves are received with their cut faces directed upwardly or downwardly, comprising the steps of a. supporting each drupe half having its cut face directed downwardly for downward movement along a vertically disposed arcuate path of travel from a position at the upper side of said path with its cut face directed toward the inside of said path,

b. moving each such drupe half downwardly in said path and supporting each half during such movement at its leading edge for tilting outwardly of said path about its leading edge and for discharge from the lower portion of said path under the influence of gravity with its convex side directed downwardly,

. supporting each drupe having its hemispherical convex surface facing downwardly for downward movement along said arcuate path from a position at the upper side of said path with its convex surface directed toward the inside of said path,

d. supporting each such drupe having its convex surface directed toward the inside of said path against a leading portion of said convex surface for outward sliding of such drupe with its leading end in a leading position generally about a horizontal axis adjacent its cut face in a direction outwardly of said path in the lower portion of the latter under the influence of gravity during said downward movement for discharge from gravity during said downward movement for discharge from said path with its convex side directed downwardly.

2. A feeder for drupe halves each of which has a planar surface on one side and a convex, substantially hemispherical, outer surface on the opposite side extending to the outer edges of said planar surface comprising:

a. a drupe support having a drupe-supporting surface for supporting a drupe half thereon with its convex or planar surface against said supporting surface,

b. supporting means for supporting said drupe support and a drupe half thereon for downward movement in a downwardly extending arcuate path from a drupereceiving position at the upper portion of said path with said drupe-supporting surface facing generally upwardly at said drupe-receiving position and progressively facing laterally and downwardly during said downward movement to a drupe-discharging position in the lower portion of said path,

c. means for so moving said drupe support in said arcuate path,

d. said drupe support having a leading end during said downward movement, and drupe-engaging and guiding means stationary on said support adjacent said loading end for engaging the convex surface of the leading portion of a drupe half carried on said drupe-supporting surface when a drupe half is on said drupe-supporting surface at said drupe-receiving position with its convex surface directed downwardly against said drupesupporting surface, for pivotal and slidable movement of said drupe half thereon and for guiding said drupe half outwardly of said path and said drupe support with its convex surface lowermost during movement of said support to said drupe-discharging position. ln a feeder as defined in claim 2; said drupe-engaging means being adapted to engage the leading edge of a drupe positioned with its planar surface against the drupe-supporting surface on said support at said drupe-receiving station for tilting movement of said last-mentioned drupe outwardly of said support about its leading edge to a position with its convex surface facing downwardly upon movement of said last-mentioned drupe half with said support to said drupe-discharging position, whereby said last-mentioned drupe half will be discharged at said discharge position with its convex surface facing downwardly.

4. In a feeder as defined in claim 3-,

f. said arcuate path being a portion of a circular path, and said supporting means including a horizontal shaft rotatable about its axis,

g. said drupe'engaging means comprising a pair of horizontally spaced elements projecting generally radially outwardly of said drupe-supporting surface relative to said axis and in alignment in a direction parallel with said shaft.

h. said support having a central outwardly opening recess in a vertical plane perpendicular to said axis for receiving a pit that may project from a drupe half having its planar surface against said drupe-supporting surface, and the latter being at opposite sides of said recess.

. In a feeder as defined in claim 3;

drupe-retaining means supported adjacent the upper side of said support in a position adjacent to and outwardly of said arcuate for yieldable sliding engagement with a drupe half on said drupe-supporting surface during downward movement of said support in the upper portion of said path with a drupe thereon from said drupereceiving position for yieldably holding said drupe half in said drupe-supporting surface, said drupe-retaining means terminating at its lower end approximately at said drupe-discharging position of said support for freeing each drupe half or falling with its convex surface facing downwardly, and means supporting said drupe-retaining means in its aforesaid position for said yieldable and sliding engagement with a drupe half on said support.

6. in a feeder as defined in claim 3;

f. said drupe support including an endless row of said drupesupporting surfaces successively movable downwardly in said arcuate path, and said supporting means including a horizontal rotatable shaft supporting said support for said successive downward movement of said supporting surfaces longitudinally of the row thereof in said arcuate path from said drupe-receiving position to and past said drupe-discharging position,

g. separate means for feeding a drupe half onto each of said drupe-supporting surfaces prior to said downward movement thereof in said arcuate path and for receiving each drupe discharged therefrom at said discharge position of said drupe-supporting surfaces, and

h. said means for moving said drupe support being connected with said separate means for movement with said drupe support in timed relation with the latter.

7. A feeder for drupe halves, each of which has a planar surface on one side and a convex, substantially hemispherical outer surface on the opposite side extending to the outer edges of said planar surfaces, comprising:

a. a body having a central, horizontally disposed axis of rotation, and a plurality of outer drupe-supporting surfaces equally spaced around and equally spaced from said axis,

b. body-supporting means supporting'said body for rotation in one direction about said axis whereby said surfaces will successively move to an upper position above said axis and then downwardly in an arcuate path to a position below said axis, and whereby each drupe-supporting surface will have a leading edge,

e. body moving means connected with said body-supporting means for rotating said body in said one direction,

d. said outer drupe-supporting surfaces each adapted to support a drupe half thereon with its planar or convex surface thereagainst at said upper position, and. to discharge such drupe half therefrom upon movement of said surfaces to below said axis,

e. drupe-engaging means in engagement with the drupe halves respectively on said drupe-supporting surfaces during movement of said drupe-engaging surfaces from said upper to said lower positions for positioning each drupe half with its convex surface downwardly upon discharge of said drupe halves from said drupe-supporting surfaces irrespective of whether said planar or convex surfaces of said drupe halves were against said drupesupporting surfaces at said upper positions thereof.

8. In a feeder as defined in claim 7;

f. said drupe-supporting surfaces being planar and at right angles to each other, and

g. said body-moving means including a mechanism for intermittently rotating said body through 90 from a drupe half receiving position in which one of said drupesupporting surfaces faces upwardly and forwardly relative to the direction of rotation of said body, whereby a drupesupporting surface at said drupe-receiving position will move to a position facing downwardly and forwardly during each of the intermittent movements of said body.

9. ha feeder asdefined in claim 7;

f. said drupe-engaging means comprising projections extending radially outwardly 'of said drupe-supporting surfaces adjacent their leading edges for holding the drupe half on each drupe-supporting surface against movement thereof of? said leading edge thereof and for substantially uniformly positioning each half on one of said drupe-supporting surfaces during movement of thc latter in said one direction to said lower position thereof.

10. In a feeder as defined in claim 9;

g. said drupe-supporting surfaces each being planar and embossed on their outer surfaces to facilitate discharge of drupe halves having their planar surfaces thereagainst upon movement of said drupe-supporting surfaces to said lower position.

11. In a feeder as defined in claim 9;

g. said drupe-supporting surfaces each comprising a pair of substantially planar portions spaced apart axially of said body for engagement with the planar portions 'of a drupe half at opposite sides of the pit cavity of a drupe half having its planar surface against said drupe-supporting surface, the space between said planar portions being adapted to received a pit projecting from said cavity.

12. In a feeder as defined in claim 9;

g. said drupe-engaging means including an element separate from said body supported in a position for yieldably and slidably engaging the outer surfaces of the drupe halves facing radially outwardly of said axis during movement of said drupe halves from said upper to said lower positions for retaining said drupe halves against said drupe halves in said body and drupe-supporting surfaces during said movement, said element terminating said engagement with said drupe halves adjacent to said lower position for freeing said drupe halves for said discharge, by gravity, from said body and drupe-engaging surfaces with their 10 convex surfaces facing downwardly.

13. In a feeder as defined in claim 12;

h. said projections comprising a pair of earlike members projecting substantially at right angles from said drupesupportingsurfaces and extending convergently toward the leading edge of each drupe-engaging surface for engaging the leading side of a drupe half on each drupesupporting surface at horizontally spaced points for pivotal movement of each half about a horizontal axis through said points for positioning said drupe halves with their convex sides facing downwardly upon discharge from said body.

14. in a feeder as defined in claim 13;

i. said earlike members having linearly convex outer edges extending progressively outwardly in a direction away from the leading edge of each drupe-supporting surface in positions for engaging the convex surfaces of halves having their said lower surfaces supported against said drupe-supporting surfaces, at said points along said outer edges of said earlike elements, according to the size of said halves.

15. In a feeder as defined in claim 13;

i. said earlike members each having linearly convexly extending outer edges respectively spaced progressively greater distances away from the drupe-supporting surface from which said ears project in a direction away from the leading edges of said drupe-supporting surface, and said spaced points of engagement between the convex surface of a drupe half that faces said drupe-supporting surface being along said outer edges of said earlike members, and junctures between said earlike members and said drupesupporting surfaces being along straight lines extending divergently from said leading edges of each said drupesupporting surface, and said paced points of engagement between a drupe half having its planar surface against a drupe-supporting surface being respectively along the straight lines of said junctures.

16. A feeder for drupe halves, each of such halves having a planar surface on one side and a convex, substantially hemispherical surface on the opposite side extending to said planar surface comprising:

a. drupe support having a generally upwardly facing drupesupporting surface in a drupe-supporting position for supporting a drupe half thereon with its said convex or planar surface against said supporting surface,

b. supporting means supporting said drupe support for tilting in one direction in a vertical plane from said drupesupporting position to a generally vertical drupedischarging position for discharge of a drupe on said drupe-supporting surface by gravity,

. drupe-engaging means projecting angularly from said surface for engaging the lower edge of a drupe half having its planar face against said surface during said tilting movement and said drupe-engaging means being free from obstruction to outward pivotal movement of said half about said drupe-engaging means when said supporting means is in said discharging position for discharge of said half with its convex side falling downwardly,

d. said drupe-engaging means having portions thereof spaced outwardly of said drupe-supporting surface for engaging the convex surface of a drupe half having its convex surface in engagement with said drupe-supporting surface for slidable outward movement of said lastmentioned drupe half on said'portion on said portions under the influence of gravity outwardly of said supporting surface for discharge for said support with the convex side of said last-mentioned drupe half facing downward, when said supporting means is in said discharging position, and

e. means for tilting said support from said drupe-supporting position to said drupe-discharging position. 

1. A method of delivering and orienting generally hemispherical drupe halves, each having a substantially planar cut face on one side and a substantially hemispherical convex surface on the other side extending to the outer edges of said cut face so that said halves are each delivered, one at a time, with their cut faces directed upwardly irrespective of whether said halves are received with their cut faces directed upwardly or downwardly, comprising the steps of: a. supporting each drupe half having its cut face directed downwardly for downward movement along a vertically disposed arcuate path of travel from a position at the upper side of said path with its cut face directed toward the inside of said path, b. moving each such drupe half downwardly in said path and supporting each half during such movement at its leading edge for tilting outwardly of said path about its leading edge and for discharge from the lower portion of said path under the influence of gravity with its convex side directed downwardly, c. supporting each drupe having its hemispherical convex surface facing downwardly for downward movement along said arcuate path from a position at the upper side of said path with its convex surface directed toward the inside of said path, d. supporting each such drupe having its convex surface directed toward the inside of said path against a leading portion of said convex surface for outward sliding of such drupe with its leading end in a leading position generally about a horizontal axis adjacent its cut face in a direction outwardly of said Path in the lower portion of the latter under the influence of gravity during said downward movement for discharge from gravity during said downward movement for discharge from said path with its convex side directed downwardly.
 2. A feeder for drupe halves each of which has a planar surface on one side and a convex, substantially hemispherical, outer surface on the opposite side extending to the outer edges of said planar surface comprising: a. a drupe support having a drupe-supporting surface for supporting a drupe half thereon with its convex or planar surface against said supporting surface, b. supporting means for supporting said drupe support and a drupe half thereon for downward movement in a downwardly extending arcuate path from a drupe-receiving position at the upper portion of said path with said drupe-supporting surface facing generally upwardly at said drupe-receiving position and progressively facing laterally and downwardly during said downward movement to a drupe-discharging position in the lower portion of said path, c. means for so moving said drupe support in said arcuate path, d. said drupe support having a leading end during said downward movement, and drupe-engaging and guiding means stationary on said support adjacent said leading end for engaging the convex surface of the leading portion of a drupe half carried on said drupe-supporting surface when a drupe half is on said drupe-supporting surface at said drupe-receiving position with its convex surface directed downwardly against said drupe-supporting surface, for pivotal and slidable movement of said drupe half thereon and for guiding said drupe half outwardly of said path and said drupe support with its convex surface lowermost during movement of said support to said drupe-discharging position.
 3. In a feeder as defined in claim 2; e. said drupe-engaging means being adapted to engage the leading edge of a drupe positioned with its planar surface against the drupe-supporting surface on said support at said drupe-receiving station for tilting movement of said last-mentioned drupe outwardly of said support about its leading edge to a position with its convex surface facing downwardly upon movement of said last-mentioned drupe half with said support to said drupe-discharging position, whereby said last-mentioned drupe half will be discharged at said discharge position with its convex surface facing downwardly.
 4. In a feeder as defined in claim 3; f. said arcuate path being a portion of a circular path, and said supporting means including a horizontal shaft rotatable about its axis, g. said drupe-engaging means comprising a pair of horizontally spaced elements projecting generally radially outwardly of said drupe-supporting surface relative to said axis and in alignment in a direction parallel with said shaft, h. said support having a central outwardly opening recess in a vertical plane perpendicular to said axis for receiving a pit that may project from a drupe half having its planar surface against said drupe-supporting surface, and the latter being at opposite sides of said recess.
 5. In a feeder as defined in claim 3; f. drupe-retaining means supported adjacent the upper side of said support in a position adjacent to and outwardly of said arcuate for yieldable sliding engagement with a drupe half on said drupe-supporting surface during downward movement of said support in the upper portion of said path with a drupe thereon from said drupe-receiving position for yieldably holding said drupe half in said drupe-supporting surface, said drupe-retaining means terminating at its lower end approximately at said drupe-discharging position of said support for freeing each drupe half or falling with its convex surface facing downwardly, and means supporting said drupe-retaining means in its aforesaid position for said yieldable and sliding engagement with a drupe half on said support.
 6. In a feeder as defined in claim 3; f. said drupe support iNcluding an endless row of said drupe-supporting surfaces successively movable downwardly in said arcuate path, and said supporting means including a horizontal rotatable shaft supporting said support for said successive downward movement of said supporting surfaces longitudinally of the row thereof in said arcuate path from said drupe-receiving position to and past said drupe-discharging position, g. separate means for feeding a drupe half onto each of said drupe-supporting surfaces prior to said downward movement thereof in said arcuate path and for receiving each drupe discharged therefrom at said discharge position of said drupe-supporting surfaces, and h. said means for moving said drupe support being connected with said separate means for movement with said drupe support in timed relation with the latter.
 7. A feeder for drupe halves, each of which has a planar surface on one side and a convex, substantially hemispherical outer surface on the opposite side extending to the outer edges of said planar surfaces, comprising: a. a body having a central, horizontally disposed axis of rotation, and a plurality of outer drupe-supporting surfaces equally spaced around and equally spaced from said axis, b. body-supporting means supporting said body for rotation in one direction about said axis whereby said surfaces will successively move to an upper position above said axis and then downwardly in an arcuate path to a position below said axis, and whereby each drupe-supporting surface will have a leading edge, c. body moving means connected with said body-supporting means for rotating said body in said one direction, d. said outer drupe-supporting surfaces each adapted to support a drupe half thereon with its planar or convex surface thereagainst at said upper position, and to discharge such drupe half therefrom upon movement of said surfaces to below said axis, e. drupe-engaging means in engagement with the drupe halves respectively on said drupe-supporting surfaces during movement of said drupe-engaging surfaces from said upper to said lower positions for positioning each drupe half with its convex surface downwardly upon discharge of said drupe halves from said drupe-supporting surfaces irrespective of whether said planar or convex surfaces of said drupe halves were against said drupe-supporting surfaces at said upper positions thereof.
 8. In a feeder as defined in claim 7; f. said drupe-supporting surfaces being planar and at right angles to each other, and g. said body-moving means including a mechanism for intermittently rotating said body through 90* from a drupe half receiving position in which one of said drupe-supporting surfaces faces upwardly and forwardly relative to the direction of rotation of said body, whereby a drupe-supporting surface at said drupe-receiving position will move to a position facing downwardly and forwardly during each of the intermittent movements of said body.
 9. In a feeder as defined in claim 7; f. said drupe-engaging means comprising projections extending radially outwardly of said drupe-supporting surfaces adjacent their leading edges for holding the drupe half on each drupe-supporting surface against movement thereof off said leading edge thereof and for substantially uniformly positioning each half on one of said drupe-supporting surfaces during movement of the latter in said one direction to said lower position thereof.
 10. In a feeder as defined in claim 9; g. said drupe-supporting surfaces each being planar and embossed on their outer surfaces to facilitate discharge of drupe halves having their planar surfaces thereagainst upon movement of said drupe-supporting surfaces to said lower position.
 11. In a feeder as defined in claim 9; g. said drupe-supporting surfaces each comprising a pair of substantially planar portions spaced apart axially of said body for engagement with the planar portions of a drupe half at opposite sides of the pit cavity of a dRupe half having its planar surface against said drupe-supporting surface, the space between said planar portions being adapted to received a pit projecting from said cavity.
 12. In a feeder as defined in claim 9; g. said drupe-engaging means including an element separate from said body supported in a position for yieldably and slidably engaging the outer surfaces of the drupe halves facing radially outwardly of said axis during movement of said drupe halves from said upper to said lower positions for retaining said drupe halves against said drupe halves in said body and drupe-supporting surfaces during said movement, said element terminating said engagement with said drupe halves adjacent to said lower position for freeing said drupe halves for said discharge, by gravity, from said body and drupe-engaging surfaces with their convex surfaces facing downwardly.
 13. In a feeder as defined in claim 12; h. said projections comprising a pair of earlike members projecting substantially at right angles from said drupe-supporting surfaces and extending convergently toward the leading edge of each drupe-engaging surface for engaging the leading side of a drupe half on each drupe-supporting surface at horizontally spaced points for pivotal movement of each half about a horizontal axis through said points for positioning said drupe halves with their convex sides facing downwardly upon discharge from said body.
 14. In a feeder as defined in claim 13; i. said earlike members having linearly convex outer edges extending progressively outwardly in a direction away from the leading edge of each drupe-supporting surface in positions for engaging the convex surfaces of halves having their said lower surfaces supported against said drupe-supporting surfaces, at said points along said outer edges of said earlike elements, according to the size of said halves.
 15. In a feeder as defined in claim 13; i. said earlike members each having linearly convexly extending outer edges respectively spaced progressively greater distances away from the drupe-supporting surface from which said ears project in a direction away from the leading edges of said drupe-supporting surface, and said spaced points of engagement between the convex surface of a drupe half that faces said drupe-supporting surface being along said outer edges of said earlike members, and junctures between said earlike members and said drupe-supporting surfaces being along straight lines extending divergently from said leading edges of each said drupe-supporting surface, and said paced points of engagement between a drupe half having its planar surface against a drupe-supporting surface being respectively along the straight lines of said junctures.
 16. A feeder for drupe halves, each of such halves having a planar surface on one side and a convex, substantially hemispherical surface on the opposite side extending to said planar surface comprising: a. drupe support having a generally upwardly facing drupe-supporting surface in a drupe-supporting position for supporting a drupe half thereon with its said convex or planar surface against said supporting surface, b. supporting means supporting said drupe support for tilting in one direction in a vertical plane from said drupe-supporting position to a generally vertical drupe-discharging position for discharge of a drupe on said drupe-supporting surface by gravity, c. drupe-engaging means projecting angularly from said surface for engaging the lower edge of a drupe half having its planar face against said surface during said tilting movement and said drupe-engaging means being free from obstruction to outward pivotal movement of said half about said drupe-engaging means when said supporting means is in said discharging position for discharge of said half with its convex side falling downwardly, d. said drupe-engaging means having portions thereof spaced outwardly of said drupe-supporting surface for engaging the convex surface of a drupe half having its convex surface in engagement with said drupe-supporting surface for slidable outward movement of said last-mentioned drupe half on said portion on said portions under the influence of gravity outwardly of said supporting surface for discharge for said support with the convex side of said last-mentioned drupe half facing downward, when said supporting means is in said discharging position, and e. means for tilting said support from said drupe-supporting position to said drupe-discharging position. 